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Brisbane Lions player investigated for alleged wheelchair assault

6th September, 2013
30
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A high-profile Brisbane Lions AFL player is being investigated after allegations he assaulted a wheelchair-bound man on the eve of Mad Monday celebrations.

The same week St Kilda’s Clinton Jones was fined $3000 for setting a dwarf entertainer alight during the AFL club’s end of season drinks, police are investigating claims the disabled man was tipped out of his wheelchair while waiting for a taxi on Sunday.

The 40-year-old man’s lawyers say their client made a formal complaint to police yesterday .. prompting the Lions to launch their own internal probe.

“The Brisbane Lions are aware of serious allegations made against one of its players regarding an alleged incident on Sunday night,” a Lions statement said.

“The club has launched an immediate investigation into the matter as it had not previously been made aware of the allegations.

“The club will make further comment once it is in a position to do so.”

The disabled man was reportedly approached by a group of men at a Toowong taxi rank in Brisbane’s inner west.

A player then allegedly tipped the out of his wheelchair and boarded a taxi as it arrived.

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When the disabled man protested that the cab was meant for him, the players allegedly threw food at him as lay on the ground.

The allegations have emerged just days after Jones was fined, forced to apologise and make a charity donation after using a gas lighter to set the dwarf entertainer’s clothes alight at an end of season Saints function in South Melbourne on Monday.

The entertainer did not make a formal complaint to police.

Police have confirmed they are investigating an incident at Sherwood Road at Toowong about 6.30pm AEST on Sunday.

“(There was) no mention of him being dumped out of his wheelchair though, I might just add, but obviously we are still investigating,” a police spokeswoman told AAP.

“He didn’t need medical treatment and there’s no one in custody at the moment.”

The spokeswoman said the incident was reported to police on Thursday.

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